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Swiss Bar Fire Death Toll Rises to 41 After Teen Dies a Month Later

Prosecutors are investigating suspected safety lapses at Le Constellation after revelations of missed inspections.

Overview

  • An 18-year-old Swiss national died in a Zurich hospital on January 31, authorities said Sunday, raising fatalities from the January 1 Crans-Montana blaze to 41.
  • Another 115 people were injured, with many still hospitalized in Switzerland and abroad; as of Monday, 44 patients were treated in France, Italy, Germany and Belgium, and 37 remained in Swiss hospitals.
  • Investigators say the fire likely began when champagne sparklers ignited sound-insulation foam on the basement ceiling, and technical examinations continue.
  • Four people are under criminal investigation: the bar’s co-owners, Crans-Montana’s current head of public safety, and a former municipal fire safety officer.
  • Hundreds marched in Lutry on Saturday to demand truth and justice, as families and friends paid tribute a month after the disaster that largely affected teenagers.